APP - Pediatric Urology

About the role

The West Virginia University Health System, the state’s largest health system and largest private employer, comprises 18 hospitals throughout the state and bordering states. In addition, it includes five institutes, as well as providing management services for other local hospitals through affiliate agreements.

Work Here. Thrive Here.

Responsibilities

• Manages comprehensive and individualized care for surgical pediatric urology patients and their families in the inpatient phase of hospitalization (as applicable), immediate post discharge, and in the ambulatory setting.
• Completes daily rounds; consults and/or pre-procedure/surgical pediatric urology evaluations.
• Completes integrated assessments.
• Participates in peri-operative management of patient.
• Orders additional tests or consults as deemed appropriate.
• Communicates results of diagnostic tests following established clinical guidelines and scope of practice.
• Consults and communicates with clinic and hospital staff regarding abnormal findings in the evaluations of patients.
• Documents findings in medical record.
• Counsels and educates patients and families.
• Coordinates appropriate services and tests prior to discharge necessary for outpatient follow-up appointments (as applicable).
• Performs and communicates results of diagnostic tests following established clinical guidelines and scope of practice.
• Manages comprehensive and individualized care through the inpatient and immediate post-discharge phase of the patient’s hospitalization and in the outpatient setting (as applicable).
• Develops a comprehensive individualized plan of care for surgical pediatric urology patients, which includes teaching, discharge planning/follow-up and necessary referral to other members of the health care team as necessary.
• Identifies unstable or complex surgical pediatric urology pediatric patient care situations and facilitates appropriate intervention in the clinic and/or hospital setting.
• Facilitates patient discharge and/or postoperative care by coordinating appropriate services and tests prior to scheduled outpatient follow up appointments (as applicable).
• Recognizes emergency situations and initiates effective emergency care.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of the surgery patient/family teaching and collaborates with the nursing and clinical staff in the completion of education plan.
• Aids in the collection of outcome measures (as applicable).
• Demonstrates critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision making by the identification, evaluation and management of the individual needs of patients/families.
• Bases decisions made/actions taken on the relevant scientific principles, established standards of care and/or research findings.
• Utilizes teaching/learning theory and appropriate teaching strategies in the provision of education to nursing staff, hospital staff, students, patients, families and the community.
• Promotes an environment that facilitates learning by responding to appropriate patient/family preferences, priorities and readiness to learn.
• Updates own knowledge base throughout the year.
• Completes all identified clinical competencies.
• Serves as a resource person for staff caring for the surgical pediatric urology patient.
• Provides educational programs to professional and paraprofessional personnel in area of expertise.
• Mentors nursing personnel in all levels of clinical practice.
• Participates in community programs, distribution of literature, as appropriate in area of expertise.
• Communicates effectively with patients/families, physicians and ancillary services at all levels to assure coordinated efficient patient care.
• Documents the plan of care, interventions and evaluations in a clear and concise manner for every patient visit in the patient’s medical record following approved hospital/UHA policies and compliance standards for documentation.
• Collaborates with other leaders and staff to effectively achieve patient outcome-based improvements in care.
• Works collaboratively with medical and nursing staff to facilitate creative problem solving and provide professional support.
• Participates and initiates inter-disciplinary approaches to patient care, program development and education.
• Serves as a professional role model.
• Promotes and practices innovation of the expanded role in the delivery of care to surgical pediatric urology patients and families throughout the inpatient hospitalization, and the ambulatory setting.
• Participates and provides leadership for committees and task forces.
• Documents hours and submits billing reports, as appropriate.
• Participates in the WVUM/UHA Performance Improvement Plan.
• Applies information from Performance Improvement activities, changing practice as necessary, to improve care provided to patients.
• Reviews and interprets surgical pediatric urology data from sources such as patient registries, clinical and financial reports, length of stay, access to care, and cost per case reports and recommends/implements changes as necessary.
• Participates in clinical trials and research studies with the Principal Investigator.
• Affords assistance to urology Faculty, Administrators and Directors in the collection of outcome measures.
• Assists in the collection of outcome measures (as applicable).

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications For Nurse Practitioner:
  • Graduate of a CCNE accredited nursing program with Master’s Degree in Nursing.
  • National Certification by one of the recognized APRN Certification Centers.
  • Licensure; or eligibility for licensure, as a professional Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in West Virginia.
  • American Heart Association BLS Certification required with additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
  • Surgical, pediatric, urology experience preferred.
  • Eligible new graduates will be considered.
• Minimum Qualifications For Physician Assistant:
  • Bachelor 's Degree or Master’s Degree as Physician Assistant required.
  • Graduate of an ARC-PA approved Physician Assistant (PA) training program required.
  • Certification by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants required.
  • Must be licensed or eligible for licensure by the WV Board of Medicine or WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • BLS Certification required with additional Advanced Life Support training at the discretion of the department.
  • Master’s level degree as Physician Assistant preferred.

Skills And Abilities

• Proficiency with computers.
• Strong communication skills.

Physical Requirements

• Heavy/Hard Work: Work requires strength and/or stamina, lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, positioning of patients, standing, walking, and carrying of patients, materials and equipment weighting 40+ pounds.
• Working closely with others.
• Protracted or irregular hours.
• Working around biohazards.
• Working around infectious diseases.
• Working with or near the deceased.
• Working with hands in water.
• Electrical hazards associated with patient care equipment.